Mast coupling



G;- F.-GRAY.Y MAST COUPLING. APPLICATION FILED SEPT-16 1919- MAST COUPLING.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J 13 1922 Application filed September 16, 1919. Serial No. 324,127.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, Gnonon FRANCIS GRAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mahwah, Bergen County, New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mast Couplings, of which the tollowing is a specification.

The present invention relates to mast couplings, and has particular reference to the provision of a slip-joint or coupling adapted to be used between the several sections of a mast oi knock-down construction, such as is used for wireless telegraph and other purposes.

It is particularly desirous to secure a cou pling which may be readily assembled and taken apart, and in which an efficient co operation of the several parts is assured even under the most adverse circumstances.

It is intended that the two members of which the joint consists shall be secured to the adjacent ends of the sections of the knock-down mast, the coupling members being so designed that the male member thereof on the section oi the mast next to the ground, serves ground-engaging means for the mast, and the socket member on the uppermost section oi the mast, as means for securing guys, antennae and the like thereto for holding the mast in place.

Other and further objects oi? the invention Will appear as the nature of the same is better understood from consideration oi? the following description taken in conjunction with the attached drawing, wherein like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, and in which Fig. 1 represents a side elevation of the male member of the joint, part of which is broken away to more clearly show the inte rior construction thereof,

Fig. 2, a side elevational view, partly broken away, showing the socket member of the joint or coupling,

Fig. 3, a view showing the relative positions of the several parts of the joint when assembled,

Fig. 1-, a section taken on .line ii- 1 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 5, a section taken on line 55, of Fig. 3, with the joint members assembled.

A spiked or tapered metal member 1, preferably provided with a solid tip, forms the male half of the coupling, said member being riveted or otherwise suitably secured to the lower end of the mast section. The upper end or. the adjoining mast section carries socket member 2 of the coupling, said member being rigidly secured thereto. This latter member is tapered interiorly to correspond to the taper of member 1, but not so as to aliow the members of the coupling to become wedged or make a suction fit when assembled. This construction insures cooperation of the two'parts of the joint, and althoughthe external member thereof becomes jammed a little, the joint can still be made. Socket member 2 is provided with a rein forcement 3 about its upper edge in order that the same may not be easily distorted and thus prevent functioning of the joint elements. Openings 4 near the upper edge of member 2 serve for the attachment of guys, antennae, etc., thereto should the socket member come on the uppermost section of the mast. Channeled reinforcing ribs 5 are formed on the member 2 during the course of manufacture thereof, and said ribs are bowed outwardly and run longitudinally of the member 2, serving to greatly strengthen the joint and compensate for any weakening of the member 2 due to the formation of the holes a and 6.

In order that the two members of the joint may never rust together, they are made of dissimilar metals, socket member 2 preferably being steel, and spike member 1, tough brass or bronze casting. A drain hole 6 in the lower part of member 2 provides egress for any water that may lodge in the socket member of the joint.

The invention contemplates when the coupling herein described is used to connect the several sections oi a knock-down mast, that the lower end of each mast section be provided with amember 1, whereby any section may be readily coupled to its adjoining section or secured in the ground by means of member 1, should it be desired to use the section as the lowermost section of the mast; also, that the upper end of each mast section be provided with a member 2, the same being designed to serve either as the socket member of the joint between two adjoining sections, it the section to which it is attached is any other than the top section, or as means, in the form of openings 4, to which the antennae, guys, etc, may be attached for holding the mast structure in position when the socket member comes on the uppermost section of the mast.

I do not Wish to be understood as confining this invention to the specific details of construction nor to the specific uses described, except as pointed out in the claims. Vfhat I claim is 1. A joint for mast sections comprising va metal male member having a socket portion to receive amastsection and also having an externally tapered jointingface, and a metal female member having a socket portion to receive another-mastjsection and also having an internally tapered jointing face to fit the jointing face of the male member, the socket member being formed with reinforcing ribs extending longitudinally thereof and bowed outwardly between their ends 2. A jointfor mast sections comprising a metal male member having a socket portion to receive a mast section and also having an externally tapered jointing face, and a metal female member having a socket portion to receive another mast section and. also having an internally tapered jointing face to fit the jointing face of the male member, the female member also having internally channeled ribs extending longitudinally thereof.

3. A joint for mast sections comprising a metal male member having a socket portion to receive a mast section and also having an externally tapered jointing face, and a metal female member having a socket portion to receive another mast section and also having an internally taperedhjointing face to fit the jointing face of the male member, the female member having a circular series of holes in its tapered portion, and also having outwardly bowed ribs extending longitudinally of said tapered portion in which the holes are formed.

slgnature.

GEORGE F. GRAY; 

